One of the most currently controversial foods has to be foie gras. This stems from the practice of force feeding ducks or geese to create the enlarged liver. Dan Barber takes this controversy and turns it on its head. He promulgates the production of foie gras as a model for the future of food production; hard to believe? Just watch http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_barber_s_surprising_foie_gras_parable.html

Were you converted by this, MEF? (I confess I haven't looked at the talk; I am one of those who will eat (and have eaten) foie gras. It's delicious!! And it must be good for us too - all that vitamin B and iron....

_________________So... have YOU backed up your files lately? And defragged too!?

ejm, when you ask if I was "converted", I assume that you mean have I changed from anti-gavage to pro gavage. I really don't have any strong opinion about this practice. But that is not really what Dan Barber speaks about. His story is about a visit to a Spanish farmer who produces foie gras by raising geese in an environment where they have all the produce they could possible want. He uses his visit to describe a paradigm for food cultivation. If I try to paraphrase him, it won't be as compelling; just listen (only 20 min.) and you will see what I mean.